Extreme agenda threatens a woman's right to choose

In the closing days of 2011, Gov. Tom Corbett signed a bill into law that made national headlines. Was it a jobs bill to help thousands of unemployed Pennsylvanians as he promised when he ran for governor?

Pa. Gov. Tom Corbett

Sadly, no. Gov. Corbett signed a bill that singles out abortion providers and imposes politically motivated rules that could shut down these health centers. Leading medical organizations and advocates, including the American Academy of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape, opposed the burdensome and unnecessary structural and staffing changes required by the legislation that will do nothing to enhance patient safety.

Ultimately, this new law could make it even harder for women to access abortion care in our state, where 82 percent of counties already do not have an abortion provider. If you’re asking yourself why our governor and legislators are spending their time attacking choice after pledging to focus on immediate challenges, such as the economy, you’re not alone.

Unfortunately, Pennsylvania is not an isolated case; it is part of a disturbing trend. We are one of 26 states that enacted a total of 69 anti-choice measures in 2011 — that’s only one measure short of the record of 70 recorded in 1999.

The landscape in Washington, D.C., is no better. This year, the U.S. House of Representatives took eight votes on choice-related issues — the highest number of recorded votes on choice since 2000.

The House voted to eliminate the federal family planning program that provides thousands of Pennsylvanians access to contraception, cancer screenings and other basic care. In addition, the House passed a bill (HR 358) that would let hospitals refuse to provide emergency abortion care to women who would die without it. Another bill, HR 3, could force rape survivors to prove to an Internal Revenue Service agent that they were assaulted.

It’s infuriating that 11 of our state’s 19 members of the House delegation voted for all of these far-reaching and insulting measures. Republican presidential candidates have expressed extreme anti-choice positions. And while the best way to reduce the need for abortion is to increase the availability of contraception, these candidates also want to make it harder to access birth control. This is absurd and way outside of mainstream values.

Even former Gov. Mitt Romney, the so-called “moderate” in the Republican presidential primary field, wants to outlaw abortion and defund Planned Parenthood and the federal family planning program. The words “Mitt” and “moderate” don’t belong in the same sentence.

Karen Ritter

On Jan. 22, we mark the 39th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. Given the extreme agenda unfolding in the states and in Washington, D.C., it is critical that the majority of Pennsylvanians who support a woman’s right to choose increase their intensity in supporting that right.

Roe represents the fundamental values of freedom and privacy. In the 39 years since this landmark decision, the variety and level of women’s achievements have reached unprecedented heights. The Supreme Court has observed that the ability of women to participate equally in the economic and social life of the nation has been facilitated by our ability to control our reproductive lives.

Abortion is never an easy choice for women who face this decision. We acknowledge the complexity that some of our friends and neighbors feel about this issue. Yet we all know that no one knows the situation of every woman who considers abortion, and that’s why we support her ability to make this decision without interference from politicians.

This month, politicians in Washington and Harrisburg will start where they left off in 2011 — attacking choice.

We must stand up and speak out. Post on Facebook. Find out where your candidates for state and federal office stand. Ask them questions about their record. As a former state legislator and candidate for statewide office, I can tell you that contacting your legislator is important.

Americans — and Pennsylvanians — do not want lawmakers to interfere in women’s access to health care. It is absolutely vital that those elected officials who do not share our values and priorities are held accountable for their voting records.

Karen Ritter is a former Lehigh County state legislator (1986-1994) who led the legislative fight against the Pennsylvania Abortion Control Act. She serves as vice chair of the NARAL Pro-Choice America Board of Directors and as co-chair of the NARAL Pro-Choice America Political Action Committee.